Multi-phase mixing in a hydraulic jump

Abstract

A stationary hydraulic jump is utilized in a multi-phase mixing system to mix components present in a plurality of separate phases. The flow rate and film height of a liquid phase in a first pipe section is metered and combined with a flow rate metered gas phase to form a stationary hydraulic jump in a second pipe section. The jump position is monitored and maintained stationary. A mixed fluid flows from the jump. A variety of solid, liquid, and gaseous components may be mixed in the hydraulic jump through appropriate selection of the liquid and gas phase components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of mixing materials comprising the steps of: providing a first inlet flow of a first fluid in a first pipe section;   providing a second inlet flow of a non-atmospheric second fluid in said first pipe section;   creating at least one stationary hydraulic jump in a second pipe section in communication with said first pipe section;   mixing said first fluid and said second fluid in said at least one stationary hydraulic jump; and   providing a mixed fluid flow in a third pipe section.   
     
     
       2. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fluid comprises a liquid and said second fluid comprises a gas. 
     
     
       3. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: monitoring pressure values at a plurality of points along a monitoring pipe section; and   controlling the at least one stationary hydraulic jump in response to the monitored pressure values.   
     
     
       4. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 3 wherein said controlling step comprises: maintaining constant a back pressure applied to said mixed fluid flow when said monitoring step indicates a first pressure distribution along said monitoring section; and   altering said back pressure when said monitoring step indicates a second pressure distribution different than said first pressure distribution along said monitoring section.   
     
     
       5. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 3 wherein said control ling step comprises: maintaining constant a flow rate of said first fluid, a flow rate of said second fluid, and a back pressure applied to said mixed fluid flow, when said monitoring step indicates a first pressure distribution along said monitoring section;   altering at least one of said first fluid flow rate, said second fluid flow rate, and said back pressure when said monitoring step indicates a second pressure distribution different than said first pressure distribution along said monitoring section.   
     
     
       6. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 4 wherein a single jump is created and said first pressure distribution includes a stationary relatively high pressure region in a jump portion of the monitoring section and a relatively low pressure region in a remaining portion of the monitoring section, and wherein said second pressure distribution includes a relatively high pressure region substantially removed from the jump portion of the monitoring section and a relatively low pressure region in a remaining portion of the monitoring section. 
     
     
       7. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 4 wherein a plurality of jumps are created and said first pressure distribution includes relatively high pressure regions located substantially symmetrically with respect to a midpoint of a plurality of jump portions of the monitoring section and relatively low pressure regions in a remainder of the monitoring section, and wherein said second pressure distribution includes relatively high pressure regions substantially removed from said substantially symmetrical locations and relatively low pressure regions in a remainder of the monitoring section. 
     
     
       8. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 3 wherein said controlling step comprises controlling one of a first fluid flow rate, a second fluid flow rate, and a back pressure applied to said mixed fluid flow. 
     
     
       9. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 3 wherein said controlling step comprises controlling the position of the at least one stationary hydraulic jump in said monitoring pipe section. 
     
     
       10. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said creating step comprises: selecting a film height and a flow rate of said first fluid;   selecting a flow rate of said second fluid; and   applying a back pressure to said mixed fluid flow.   
     
     
       11. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said creating step comprises: selecting a desired mixing intensity; and   selecting a film height and a flow velocity of said first fluid corresponding to the selected mixing intensity.   
     
     
       12. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 11 wherein said selected mixing intensity is characterized by a Froude number between about 1 and about 14. 
     
     
       13. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 11 wherein said selected mixing intensity is characterized by a Froude number between about 4 and about 12. 
     
     
       14. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pipe section is at a first pressure, said second fluid is introduced into said second inlet at a second pressure, and said second pressure is greater than an atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       15. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pipe section is at a first pressure, said second fluid is introduced into said second inlet at a second pressure, and said second pressure is less than an atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       16. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fluid and said second fluid are at substantially the same pressure. 
     
     
       17. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second fluids contains a contaminant and the other of said first and second fluids contains a contaminant removal component. 
     
     
       18. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second fluids contains a component which dissolves in a component of the other of said first and second fluids after said mixing step. 
     
     
       19. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second fluids contains a component which is suspended in the other of said first and second fluids after said mixing step. 
     
     
       20. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second fluids comprises a contaminant and the other of said first and second fluids comprises an agent for treating said contaminant. 
     
     
       21. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second fluids contains a component which reacts with a component of the other of said first and second fluids. 
     
     
       22. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fluid comprises a liquid and a substantial portion of particulate matter, and wherein said second fluid comprises a gas. 
     
     
       23. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fluid comprises a liquid and a substantial portion of a gas, and wherein said second fluid comprises a gas. 
     
     
       24. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fluid comprises a liquid, and wherein said second fluid comprises a gas and a substantial portion of particulate matter. 
     
     
       25. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first fluid comprises a liquid, and wherein said second fluid comprises a gas mixed with a substantial portion of a liquid. 
     
     
       26. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second fluids comprises a three phase mixture of components. 
     
     
       27. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of separating at least two components of said mixed fluid flow. 
     
     
       28. A method of mixing materials as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: monitoring at least one pressure value corresponding to at least one point along a monitoring pipe section; and   altering said back pressure when said monitoring step indicates movement of the hydraulic jump.   
     
     
       29. An apparatus for mixing materials comprising: a first pipe section including a first fluid inlet, a second non-atmospheric fluid inlet, and a first fluid film height controller;   a second stationary hydraulic jump pipe section in communication with said first pipe section; and   a third pipe section in communication with said second pipe section and including a back pressure regulator.   
     
     
       30. An apparatus for mixing as claimed in claim 29 further comprising: a pipe pressure distribution sensor adapted to sense the pressure distribution along a monitoring pipe section.   
     
     
       31. An apparatus for mixing as claimed in claim 30 further comprising a controller adapted to control the back pressure regulator in response to the sensed pressure distribution. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus for mixing as claimed in claim 30 further comprising a controller adapted to control the back pressure regulator, a first fluid flow rate controller, and a second fluid flow rate controller in response to a sensed pressure distribution. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus for mixing as claimed in claim 29 wherein said second pipe section is inclined with respect to a flow direction of said first fluid and said second fluid inlet comprises a plurality of fluid inlet ports located so as to be positioned prior to a first stationary hydraulic jump and between successive stationary hydraulic jumps in said second pipe section. 
     
     
       34. An apparatus for mixing as claimed in claim 29 wherein said second pipe section includes a plurality of pipes each including a section carrying at least one stationary hydraulic jump, and wherein said plurality of pipes are in communication with a common fluid header. 
     
     
       35. A method of mixing materials comprising the steps of: providing a first inlet flow of a first fluid in a first pipe section;   providing a second inlet flow of a second fluid in said first pipe section;   creating at least one stationary hydraulic jump in a second pipe section in communication with said first pipe section;   mixing said first fluid and said second fluid in said at least one stationary hydraulic jump;   providing a mixed fluid flow in a third pipe section;   monitoring pressure values within a monitoring pipe section at a plurality of points along said monitoring pipe section; and   controlling the at least one stationary hydraulic jump in response to the monitored pressure values.